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BOISE, Idaho - Miquelle Askew’s double-double led the Broncos as Boise State held off the Cal State Fullerton Titans 66-64 in a nonconference women’s basketball game at Taco Bell Arena Sunday afternoon. Askew recorded career highs for points and rebounds with 23 and 13, respectively, as Boise State closed its nonconference slate with the victory improving to 5-6 overall.

The contest was close throughout with Boise State’s largest lead being five points in the second period and CSF’s seven midway through the first half. With the Broncos down one point, 62-61, and time running out with 1:33 on the clock Yaiza Rodriguez Ortego hit a clutch 3-pointer from the top of the arc to give Boise State the lead for good at 64-62. Her teammates then held the Titans off from the free-throw line as the blue and orange snapped a three-game skid with the big win to close 2013 on a high note.

On Askew’s way to scoring her career high she shot 70 percent from the floor making 7-of-10 shots and went 9-of-12 from the free-throw line. Oregon transfer Deanna Weaver debuted for the Broncos with a team-second-best 12 points and five rebounds. The athletic 5-11 junior wing played a big role offensively scoring 10 of her 12 points in the crucial second period, she was also a force defensively as her presence made the Titans alter many of their shots. Weaver finished the day hitting 4-of-9 shots from the floor with two 3-pointers, she was also a perfect 2-for-2 from the charity stripe.

Freshman point guard Yaiza Rodriguez Ortego matched Weaver’s point and rebound totals before fouling out of the game with 26 seconds left in the contest. The native of Spain also dished out a team-high four assists to go with two steals, tied for team best. Keiahnna Engel and Brooke Pahukoa each added six points for the blue and orange.

Boise State finished the day shooting 41.2 percent (21-of-51) from the floor, 31.6 percent (6-of-19) from the arc and 72 percent (18-of-25) from the free-throw line.

Cal State Fullerton edge the Broncos on the glass by a 37-36 tally and held a 13 to five advantage in second chance points. Boise State’s bench was big for the Broncos in the game as they out scored CSF’s 19 to three.

The Titans finish the game hitting 36.2 percent from the court, 22.7 percent (5-of-22) from beyond the arc and 77.3 percent (17-of-22) from the foul line. Three CSF players reached double digit points led by Chante Miles with 18. Kathleen Iwuoha was big for Cal State Fullerton recording a double-double on 15 points and team-high 13 rebounds. Hailey King chipped in with 12 points.

The Broncos opened the game taking the early lead and holding it until the 10 minute mark when the Titans tied the game at 12. That started an 8-0 run for Cal State Fullerton as the Titans took a 17-12 lead with eight and half minutes to go in the period.

The Titans stretched their advantage to seven, 23-16, with 6:34 remaining in the first half before the Broncos rallied. Boise State used a 9-1 run to take a 25-24 lead on a Rodriguez Ortego jumper with 2:14 on the clock.

CSF regained the lead moments later on a Kathleen Iwuoha layup. However, the Broncos finished the half with a 29-27 lead following a Kenna McDavis trey with 18 seconds to go. After trailing by seven points Boise State finished the half on a 13-4 run.

The second half was a battle as CSF rallied early to regain the lead and stretch it out to three points on two occasions, the last came at 35-32 with 16:40 to play. The Broncos rallied with a 7-0 run powered by Weaver with five of the points as the blue and orange claimed the lead at 39-35 with just over 15 minutes on the clock.

Boise State then held on to the lead maintaining a slim one to five point advantage, with three ties mixed in, over the next 13 minutes of action. With the Broncos up 61-60 with 1:46 to go, Cal State Fullerton’s Miles hit a mid-range jumper to put the Titans up for the first time since early in the half.

That set up Rodriguez Ortego’s crucial 3-pointer from the top of the arc with 1:33 remaining to give the Broncos a two-point lead. Boise State never trailed again as the Broncos held the Titans off from the free-throw line in the final minute. The contest ended with a big Tonishia Childress steal with one second left as CSF was trying to get a shot off to tie or win the game at the buzzer.